Funner Runner

Rock n Roll Chicago 5K - July 15, 2017

7/24/2017

Disclosure: As a member of the 2017 #RockNBlog team, I was provided with a complimentary 2017 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series Global Tour Pass. This provides me with entry to their race series, however no other compensation was provided and all travel and other expenditures are paid for by me. As always, all thoughts are strictly my own.

Earlier this year when I was making my Rock 'n' Roll schedule, I knew that Chicago was a must run for me in 2016. I had such a wonderful time at Rock n Roll Chicago last year, I just had to return again this year. Once I committed to the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago weekend, I instantly knew that I would be adding the 5K to my race weekend. Taking part in the 5K on Saturday morning is a great way to get acclimated to the city and have a shake out run before the half marathon on Sunday. Plus, by running the 5K on Saturday in conjunction with either the half marathon or 10K on Sunday, you earned extra bling for completing the Remix Challenge. Of course I was in, I love bling!

My friend Jennifer joined me this weekend for a quick girls' trip to Chicago. After a flight delay then sitting on the runway waiting on our turn to take off for about 40 minutes, we finally go to our hotel and settled in around 11pm. We got a few hours of sleep before waking up and heading over to Bulter Field for the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 5K.

Our hotel was less than a mile walk to Butler Field, so we got to sleep in a bit. Well, what is sleeping in for us (plus the time difference from back home). Bib pickup was available for about an hour before the race, so we made sure to get there right when it opened to avoid added stress of lines. It was quick and easy and then we had time to just chill a bit and eat our breakfast.

After acquiring our bibs and having some breakfast, I met up with a few of my friends that have all made the journey to Chicago for the weekend festivities. While I would have loved to hang out a bit with everyone, snap some selfies, and just catch up with folks, I had some #RockNBlog duties to tend to. It was still a pretty great morning as I got to hang out with my friends from around the country and meet a few of them in 'real life' for the first time this morning.

The race started at 7:30 so around 7:00 we made our way over towards the start line area. There were a number of great photo ops available including a wide open street of Chicago with the skyline behind me, so I obviously couldn't pass up the photo op.

A few days before leaving for Chicago I saw on social media that Kathrine Switzer would be in attendance this weekend and would be running in today's 5K. My goal for the weekend other than have fun and finish my races was to find Kathrine. Well, just as we were getting ready to head into the corral, Jennifer and I heard them talking about her and 261 Fearless, so we went towards the start line to see if she was there. YEP! Mission accomplished!

We finally made our way into the corral. It was a tight squeeze in there and you really got to know your neighbor while waiting to start. I was starting in corral 4 which was actually the second corral to go off since they let off corrals 1 & 2 for the first corral followed by 3 & 4 (I am unsure of what followed after I left).

The first portion of the course was ran up through Grant Park and towards Lake Michigan. As I tend to do, I started off too fast, but whatever. About a third of a mile in, I saw HER! Kathrine Switzer was just ahead of me! Jennifer and I caught up to her and of course I had to capture this moment. <3

Jennifer ended up going ahead of me just before we got to the first mile sign. Cutting through the Grant Park area was pretty tight in spots, so it was hard to stay together.

Once you made the right-hand turn at the lake, the sun coming off the water was just an awesome sight. Yes, I come from a virtually land-locked area, so seeing beautiful sights like this aren't common for me. I was definitely thankful for almost two miles along Lake Michigan and the beautiful view.

Coming from Atlanta, our definition of "flat" or "gentle hills" in Atlanta are likely hilly for others. Seriously though, I don't know if I have ever seen a course flatter than this. With less than a 40ft difference between the highest point and the lowest point on the course, my legs were a tad confused as to what the heck was going on.

I continued on my way along the course. Just before the half way point I had slowed down a little bit but was still on pace for a possible PR, the course was now a fairly wide paved path/sidewalk that provided ample room to maneuver around and keep your pace.

Y'all! Guess who caught up to me at mile 1.5!?!?! KATHRINE! I looked at my Garmin and saw that I was on pace for a few second PR perhaps (if I kept my pace)....but KATHRINE SWITZER! I made the "it is a once in a lifetime opportunity" decision and spent the last half of the race running along side of one of the most inspirational people and runners. Kathrine was absolutely amazing to run with. Her and the 261 Fearless ladies were a blast to chat with and learn more about 261 Fearless. I have never felt so freakin' empowered than what I did after those 1.5 miles.

Just like that, part one of my 2017 Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Remix Challenge was complete. 3.1 miles down, 13.1 miles to go. I collected my bling, post race snacks, and some water before snapping a few photos.

Oh, did I fail to mention that Jennifer and I hung out with my new BFF Kathrine at the finish line festival!?!? The ladies had asked me if I would mind taking pictures and videos of them doing some promotional interviews with the Rock n Roll team for Kathrine and 261 Fearless' social media. Ummmmm....yea, that is kind of my thing. <3 Y'all! I even got to hold her things for her! I can't even! (insert about every ecstatic emoji possible here)

I am so glad that I decided to add the 5K to my race weekend. It was truly a once of a lifetime opportunity for me. Not only was it a great race, it was also a great warm up for tomorrow's half marathon. Plus, I got some pretty sweet bling today and will earn extra bling tomorrow!

There is one thing about Rock 'n' Roll bling - they do NOT disappoint! From blending aspects like running, the community, and local history, each race location's bling are always unique.

Next up on our tour of Chicago was a quick stop by the #WeRunSocial meet up at The Bean. Meet ups are an excellent way to meet up with other runners and social media friends on race weekends. With thousands of runners and 20+ start waves, trying to meet up on race morning can bee a little difficult, so meet ups are great to connect with people at large races.

We had such a great turn out at the meet up! Pre-race buzz was in full swing. We all had our different reasons for being here this weekend. Some were going for PRs, some were running a first half marathon, some were out for fun, and more. I got to meet up with old friends and even meet some friends for the first time in real life. Needless to say, my heart was quite full when we left the meet up. Of course we had to take some selfies too, because if there aren't photos on the internet, did it really happen?

After leaving the #WeRunSocial meetup, we headed back to the hotel for quick showers before heading to the expo. After the expo we went over to Navy Pier. Navy Pier is where we boarded our 75 minute architecture boat tour (which was AWESOME!). It was a perfect way to see the city and learn about the history of Chicago all while staying off of our feet. After our tour we headed over to Giodarno's for some pizza before heading back to the hotel for an early bedtime.

What a wicked crazy busy and fun day it was! Yes, we were go, go, go today, but we still tried to take it easy a bit and relax a bit when we could. When you only have a day to really explore a city, it is hard to not be on your feet too much during the day. Half marathon is up tomorrow and we couldn't be more excited to take a 13.1 mile tour of Chicago in the morning.

Thank you Rock 'n' Roll for an awesome start to the weekend! All of the staff, volunteers,, emergency personnel, bands, and fellow runners made it a ROCKIN' morning for sure. If this was any indication of how the race weekend was going to be, it will definitely be full of awesome!

Want to join in on the Rock 'n' Roll fun in 2017? With so many tour stops both in the U.S. as well as international, there are so many options to have a ROCKIN' good time! Use promo code RNB15 to save $15 USD off most 2017 Rock 'n' Roll Marathons & Half Marathons (some exclusions apply).

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Peachtree Road Race - July 4, 2017

7/21/2017

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A few years ago, our family started a tradition of staying at a hotel near the start line the eve of Peachtree Road Race (and July 4th). We make it into a mini-staycation and enjoy a weekend of family fun. The biggest perk is the huge convenience of being basically right next to the start line on race morning. Normally we stay at the hotel on July 4th as well, but due to a death in the family that required us to travel and spend a few nights in a hotel right this week as well, we opted for just the night before this year. After work, dinner, and checking into the hotel, I got my "flat Brandi" ready and made sure that I had everything out and ready for the morning.

As my friends started to arrive via MARTA to the race area, I started getting texts of excitement. Even though it my my absolute favorite day of the year and I was ready to get this party started, my bed was way too comfy to get out there at 5:30. I will be there shortly, dear friends.

The beauty of staying right at the start line is that you can leave a lot later (especially if you have a later corral). We ended up watching the wheelchair division and the start of the women elite field before heading down to the corrals. I met up with Julia in our corral around 7:45 and we got ready for our party down Peachtree.

We timed our departure from the hotel about perfectly and we did not have to wait too long before our corral took off. Our corral was basically a continuous moving flow when we got in it. With start waves going off every 4 minutes or so, the process went by pretty quickly. We hung out, chatted it up with friends, and stayed hydrated. With the forecast showing it to be one of the warmest Peachtree Road Races on record (including the humidity), the race was started on a code red.

With that beautiful American flag flying above our heads, it was go time! Time for 6.2 mile party from Lenox to Piedmont! LET'S DO THIS

People often ask about how crowded the course is at the start of the corrals. We started in corral M and the first .25 mile or so was a little "congested" but it thinned out pretty quickly. You have all lanes of Peachtree Road to run in, so there is a lot of room to spread out and just settle in.

Another part of the Peachtree Road Race experience is seeing all of the patriotic and costumes. While is it common to see costumes or themed outfits along the way, some folks take it to a whole different level. Yes, you see the typical Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty costumes. You even see some people having fun with body paint to show their American spirit. Well, there are even some costume that make you go "hmmmmm." I tried to snap some great costume pictures, but I got distracted...

Did you know that each year, approximately 200,000 people line the Atlanta streets to cheer on the 60,000+ runners?!? Now THAT is one heck of a support team on your side! As we closed in on completing our first mile the crowd support really picked up. There are a lot of churches, businesses and shopping centers along the course which host a number of cheer zone parties.

Boom! Mile 1 is in the books! The sun was really starting to come up at this point, but fortunately we both run a lot in the sun and heat, so we knew the precautions we would need to take. We started out at a decent pace, but knew that we would likely have to slow down a bit along the way as the heat cranked up.

People laugh when I describe Peachtree Road Race as a 6.2 mile party (or even a buffet). Yes, you can run this race seriously and focused, but I choose a different route. This day is about fun for me. I like to soak up the memories, give high-fives, take some selfies, and against all rules my mother gave me in life, I politely accept snacks from strangers along the way.

Before we even got too far past mile 1, the sun and heat was really kicking in. Atlanta Track Club does a phenomenal job of positioning water stations about every mile, but sometimes the kindness of others really benefits you on course. Hydration was key today, and I cannot express enough gratitude for the volunteers (and other spectators) for providing support for the runners today.

Around mile 2, you pass the Episcopal Cathedral St. Philip where many runners can get blessed with. This is definitely one of the most notorious parts of the Peachtree Road Race course.

Even though many spectators were cheering for us and telling us we were "almost there", they lie. HAHA! Seriously though, thank you for the cheers friends. Like that though, we were at mile 2 and about 1/3 of the way to Piedmont Park.

There were a number of spectators and organizations that hand out refreshments along the way including watermelon, popsicle, water, beer, and more. On a hot and humid July morning, nothing beats a cold popsicle along the way, even if they were slightly melted.

If you have ever ran Peachtree Road Race, you know that the first 3 miles are mostly a slight downhill. Well, in Atlanta, you are bound to go up eventually. It is now that time.

One of my favorite parts of the course is passing Shepherd Center going up Cardiac Hill around Mile 3. The Shepherd Center is a spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospital located in Atlanta. Typically, a lot of the patients and their family and friends line the street here and cheer on the runners. Due to the extreme heat, there weren't as many out, but their cheers were still heard loud and clear.

With 100,000 spectators along the way, you don't ever go too long without cheers coming your way, but when you have cheers just for YOU, you cannot help but smile. There is always one spot on the Peachtree Road Race course....Mellow Mushroom at mile 4! Y'all! Mellow Mushroom is out there with FREE PIZZA AND BEER! WHAAAAT!?!?! Obvs, we threw the awesome staff a few bucks for a tip because they deserve it, but who can pass up FREE pizza and beer!?!? I mean, if you were going for a PR or something...that wasn't our plan. We stopped for our snacks ;-)

At this point, you could tell that a lot of people were starting to get drained by the heat. A lot of runners around out were definitely slowing down their pace and listening to their bodies just as we were. You have to play it safe sometimes, and today was one of those times.

In my past 8 Peachtrees, it has been a goal of mine to stop at way I deemed the 'party corner' and enjoy a few minutes with the best (and wildest) cheer section around! I have never stopped there, but today we fixed that.

Thank you random strangers out there today cheering for me like they knew little ol' me today. You losing your mind as I go past you makes me feel like I am unbreakable today. You gave me strength to pushing forward and doing so with a smile on my face. You giving up your holiday morning to line the streets and pass out thousands of cups of water means so much to me. Coming out with your trombone and bongo drums, yep, we hear you and love you too. Oh, and you sir that loves the smell of 60,000 runners, I am glad you love that putrid odor, because I have smelled myself the past 5 miles and I can only imagine how lovely MARTA will smell shortly.

Oh the turn onto 10th Street, how I love you! Energy along the course is amazing, but something magical happens at the left turn. It is like no matter how exhausted you get, all the excitement gets amplified. Thanks to Mizuno particularly for setting up an amazing cheer zone here, the "Mizuno Wave Zone."

After 6.2 miles of fun, selfies, and a whole lot of sweat, I crossed the finish line of my 9th Peachtree Road Race. Life is only as fun as you make it! I had an absolutely fantastic time this morning and would not have had it any other way.

After you cross the finish line, you are sent towards a runner only area of Piedmont Park to receive water and your coveted finisher shirt. There are chutes for different shirt sizes and the process is very quick and easy thanks to the great work of the volunteers! Once again, Atlanta Track Club utilized pre-packaged food boxes so you had less stuff to have to juggle and it help make sure that there was enough food for everyone.

Having the finish line at Piedmont Park provides an absolutely wonderful area for runners and their families and friends to hang out afterwards. A family reunion area greets runners and their family and friends with a place to find each other post-race. There are some great photo opportunities and some freebies set up throughout the park as well. Probably one of the most popular features is the ability to spread out and stretch out in the grass for a bit.

As we did last year, we all headed to the Atlanta Track Club post-race party at Park Tavern to meet up. For the past few years, Atlanta Track Club had a tent in Piedmont Park for members to gather after the race. Two years ago, they gave members a special treat with the party at Park Tavern and it was such a hit, they did so again last year and this year. We definitely felt like VIPs after the race - just one of the many perks of being an Atlanta Track Club member.

When it is pushing the mid-80s (plus humidity), huge bins full of ice-cold Coca-Cola beverages and PowerADE makes my heart sing - and probably those of others as well.

The "worst" part of the Peachtree Road Race experience is the hike back to MARTA. There are very few ways to get around walking back to MARTA, so a majority of the masses must make the haul after 6.2 miles. You have to get back to your car, hotel, etc somehow, but it is is a good opportunity to keep your legs moving a bit. (Random lesson: put your MARTA pass in a plastic baggie....your sweat makes it kind of gross).

Julia's sweet husband taxi'ed Momma K and I back to the hotel, so the dreaded walk and trip on MARTA was avoided. THANK YOU STEVEN! In lieu of cash, I paid "Uber-Steve" and Julia's kids in the form of Sprinkles cupcakes. You can't be that close to Sprinkles and not go, so this gave all of us a perfect excuse to get cupcakes.

Thank you to the wonderful team at Atlanta Track Club, volunteers, law enforcement and emergency responders, spectators, and fellow runners for a wonderful morning of fun and festivities.
9 Peachtree Road Races down, many more to go!

Are you interested in joining in on the fun of future Atlanta Track Club events? There are a number of races happening in the upcoming weeks around metro-Atlanta.

August 19th - Atlanta's Finest 5K, One Mile & 50m Dash
September 30th - Mercedes-Benz Stadium 5K/Walk Like MADD

Interested in becoming a member of the Atlanta Track Club? Learn more about member benefits and become a member here.

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StrideBox July 2017

7/19/2017

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Disclaimer: A HUGE thanks to the team at StrideBox for allowing me to review their subscription box service. While I did receive a box to review, no other compensation was received. As always, I keep it real and all thoughts are strictly my own.

Fitness and health products can be very tricky at times to find out what works best for you. Rather than going and dropping serious cash on products that you quickly find out that you can't stomach or don't work well for you, StrideBox lets you try various products each month before you decide to purchase large quantity packages of new products.

While every product might not be the best fit for you, you can typically find a friend that might want to try it out instead. The best part about StrideBox is that it is just $15/month and you can cancel your subscription any time if you find that you aren't enjoying your box.

Each month when I receive my StrideBox, I am honestly like a kid on Christmas morning. I absolutely cannot wait to rip into my box and see what kind of goodies await me.

One of the cool features of StrideBox is that each box comes with a "Stride Guide" inside. This guide gives you a breakdown of the products as well as information such as when to use the products in your workout/run and the retail price. To be honest, I typically ignore the "Stride Guide" until I am done unloading the box so I don't ruin the surprise.

It is time to dig into this month's StrideBox and check out the goods!

Kinesys Performance Sunscreen (SPF 30) - www.kinesysactive.com

Protecting your skin from UV rays is with out a doubt important year round. However, since most of us have a lot more skin exposed during those hot and humid summer runs, protecting your skin should be a part of your pre-run routine each day.

Not all sunscreen is created equal, which is why a lot of runners are hunting for that perfect performance/sport sunscreen that keeps protecting even during the sweatiest of runs. KINeSYS SPF30 Fragrance Free offers the very best UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum protection while allowing your skin to breathe. Packaged in a non-aerosol, spray form, you can apply without the need to rub. Some key features of KINeSYS SPF30 are:

• Fragrance Free - Ideal for sensitive skin
• Sweat Resistant - Water Resistant 80 min
• Sprays on sheer - No oily residue

nuun Performance Blueberry Strawberry - www.nuunlife.com

I have been a fan of nuun for a few years now. They are my favorite for my hydration needs for so many different reasons. I love their wide variety of flavors and different products for different performance needs (extra vitamins, a touch of caffeine, etc). Earlier this year nuun introduced nuun Performance which was designed for more intense or long workouts (>90 minutes) to keep you hydrated and perform with electrolytes and carbohydrates. Ingredients are designed in quantities to be fully absorbed, for improved hydration and reduced stomach distress vs leading sports drinks. I have been wanting to try nuun Performance for the past few months, but just haven't had a chance to order any yet, so here is my chance. I received the blueberry strawberry flavor but there is also orange mango which sounds delicious as well.

Science In Sport Isotonic Energy Gel (Orange) - www.scienceinsport.com

Science in Sport (SiS) GO Isotonic Energy Gel was the world’s first isotonic gel. SiS GO Isotonic Gels are designed to be consumed without water which leads to a more rapid delivery of carbohydrate to your muscles. There are four flavors of SiS GO Isotonic Gels available including Lemon & Lime, Tropical, Apple, and Orange.

Unlike a lot of runners, I am not a gel girl by any means. There is something about the texture that gets me and I just can't do it, so I have to resort to alternative means of fuel on my long runs, so this is a sample that I will be passing along to a friend for them to try out.

Swish Energy Mouth Rise - www.swish4.com

Swish4 is a mouth freshening, cooling and instant alertness in a mouthwash style product. Swish4 provides the user with a minty taste to freshen breath, enhance alertness, and maintain endurance in a pocket-sized bottle.

With 72mg of caffeine in the bottle, this is something that I am not interested in trying. I know that you necessarily swallow the caffeine in this product as you just rinse your mouth with it, but that is just a hefty amount of caffeine and too much of a jolt going into me as I prefer.

The Gluten Free Bar (Oatmeal Raisin) - www.theglutenfreebar.com

I always enjoy a great oatmeal cookie, so I am pretty pumped to try The Gluten Free Bar oatmeal raisin flavor in this month's Stridebox. If oatmeal raisin isn't your thing, they have other great sounding flavors as well including peanut butter, chocolate peanut butter, cranberry toasted almond, dark chocolate coconut, and coconut cashew crunch.

Stridebox Essentials 2017 Hydration Vessel - www.stridebox.com

Staying hydrated is always something I am thinking about and with scorching temperatures this summer, it is even more important to have my water with my constantly. The StrideBox 20oz BPA Free “I Run To Exercise, I Run To Explore, I Run To Escape” water bottle is perfect to keep in my backpack, sip on in the car, or use while crushing my workouts at the gym.

One final thing included my StrideBox was a card with a recipe for Chunky Monkey Baked Oatmeal Julie at Running in a Skirt and a bodyweight leg workout from Koboko Fitness. This was definitely a nice little bonus to check out and I cannot wait to try both of these out soon.

As I mentioned earlier, not every sample is going to be something that directly fits your life and likes. However, I really like the concept behind subscription boxes because you can try new things that you might not have known about before. StrideBox does a great job providing various products for pre-run, during, and post-run needs. The products included are definitely geared towards runners and other athletes and are a great fit for you and your fitness goals

Question of the Day: Have you ever tried a subscription box? What kind of products would you like to see in an upcoming StrideBox?

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Peachtree Road Race Expo - July 2, 2017

7/17/2017

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What a better way to kick off one of my favorite weekends of the year than with a race expo! As you may know, I really enjoy going to race expos. They are fantastic way to check out and buy running products, try samples, and just have a great time with friends and fellow runners

Momma K and I both volunteered at the Peachtree Expo last year as well as various other Atlanta Track Club events and always have a blast, so we knew we definitely wanted to volunteer again this year. A few months back we signed up to assist with packet pickup the first morning of the expo, so we got to the expo shortly before the expo door opened. There was a pretty good line waiting for the doors to open.

Once we arrived to the Georgia World Congress Center, we got checked in for our volunteer shift and got our volunteer goodies. We headed on into the expo (which was really cool to go in before it opened and experience the 'calm before the storm') and met up with our Crew Chiefs Debbie and Barbara. After a quick rundown of our assignment, FAQs, etc, it was time to open the expo!

Even though the line to get in looked long, once the doors opened at 10am, it moved so quickly. Security did bag checks quickly and the volunteers got everyone in as quickly as possible. As you approached the entrance, there was a place to recycle your old running shoes. Most runners have at least a pair (or more) of super broke down running shoes that have no life left in them - why not recycle them!?!?

When you first entered the expo area, there were stations set up for bib pick-up. When you registered for Peachtree Road Race, there was an option for expo pickup or have your packet mailed (for a fee). A majority of the people entering the expo were picking up their packet, so it was great to have them set up right when you walked in.

Each station was setup for designated bib numbers (4,000 bibs per station). In order to collect your bib, you showed your confirmation (either printed or on your phone) along with a form of identification. The process moved very quickly for the most part and the volunteers were great!

After you passed through the bib pick-up area, you entered the Mizuno/official race merchandise area before heading into the main expo area.

Without a doubt, Mizuno puts out some really awesome race merchandise. There were some really great products including shirts/tanks, hats, and pint glasses for the race. While all finishers receive the coveted Peachtree Road Race shirt at the end of Monday's race (which the design is a secret until the first finishers receive them), I wanted a singlet so I could wear it to the gym or on summer runs.

One of the biggest hits that Mizuno put out this year was the Peachtree Road Race Limited Edition Wave Rider 20s! After a insanely popular first year with a limited edition shoe in 2016, Mizuno once again created a special shoe to celebrate the 2017 Peachtree Road Race. You have been able to preorder or purchase these beauties at a number of the local running stores the past few weeks, but this was one of your last chances to score these shoes. Since I love all things July 4th, patriotic, and Peachtree Road Race, these obviously had to be mine! I scored mine a few weeks ago, but have been waiting until this weekend to take them out.

One of the best parts of race expos is seeing friends! I ran into multiple running friends while wandering around the expo. I also ran into a few readers/followers - hello if you are reading this! :) I always love running into people and meeting new friends at race weekends.

There were a lot of great booth with vendors with discounted running gear, running clubs, future races, charities, and of course snacks. The vendors were pretty diverse and you did not feel like you were continuously walking past the same type of product over and over.

Atlanta Track Club Kilometer Kids really made the expo something pretty sweet for the junior runners. On top of being able to learn more about Kilometer Kids and their programs, kids had the opportunity to let off some energy in the ultimate expo play zone. Activities from high jump, basketball, and more, there was definitely a lot of activities to occupy the kids after walking around the expo floor.

New this year was the Kilometer Kids Chase. For 48 hours, two treadmills were constantly going on the expo floor with Atlanta Track Club Elite runners, former Olympians, World Record holders, and other local Atlanta runners going head to head on Team Stars and Team Strips to raise money to resurface the track at Cheney Stadium in Phoenix Park which was the track and field warm-up facility for the 1996 Olympics. Atlanta Track Club's goal is to turn it into a state-of-the-art facility for the community including the Kilometer Kids program.

As you exited the expo, the final areas you walked past were an information booth where you could check out course maps including the finish line area so you can help plan your race day a bit better. There were also volunteers on hand to assist with any race day questions you may have. You were also able to purchase your MARTA ticket at the expo exit unless you are going to do the unofficial "Peachtree Half Marathon" (park at the start line, run the race, then run back to the start), you will likely need a MARTA ticket for race day

There were definitely a lot of great goodies to be picked up at the expo. A lot of vendors had samples, giveaways, and drawings for prizes. I didn't do much shopping as I have a good bit of traveling coming up in the next few months, but I did pickup a few new new singlets and some new Sparkly Soul Headbands.

While swag isn't the reason you should volunteer, let me tell you just how great Atlanta Track Club volunteer swag is. Volunteers received a sweet Mizuno Peachtree Road Race volunteer shirt, commemorative Peachtree Road Race pin, Home Depot apron, and Waffle House discount card.

Thank you to all of the wonderful vendors who attended the 2017 Peachtree Road Race expo and of course Atlanta Track Club for hosting such a wonderful event. The expo was definitely a great way to start the race weekend and get even more pumped for the race (if that is even possible).

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Friday Five: The Rock n Roll Chicago Edition

7/14/2017

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I cannot believe it is already time for Rock n Roll Chicago weekend! I have been looking forward to this weekend since last July and now and it is here already. My only other trip to Chicago was last July for Rock n Roll Chicago as well, but I was super limited on time so I hope to cross off a few things that I didn't get to enjoy last year and revisit a few places that I really loved last year. Even though I will only be in Chicago for about 40 hours total, I am sure to get as much in as possible including a 16.2 mile tour by foot (5K on Saturday and 1/2 Marathon on Sunday morning).

For today's Friday Five, I figured it was only appropriate to highlight five of the things that I am most looking forward to this weekend as I head to the great Midwest for another weekend of Rock n Roll fun!

1. The BLING
Shoot, have you seen the Rock n Roll Marathon Series bling? Come on! They seriously have some of the absolute best bling around! While their individual races each have their own medal designs unique to the city, they also have challenge medals to up the ante a bit. I will be earning 4 medals this weekend in total - the Rock n Roll Chicago 5K & Half Marathon medals, Remix Challenge medal for running the 5K on Saturday and one of the Sunday distances, and Double Beat for running my second Rock N Roll half marathons (or longer) in the 2017 calendar year. Fact: I run for bling.

Source: Rock n Roll Marathon Series

2. Sightseeing
Last year I enjoyed soaking up a few of Chicago's iconic landmarks including Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain and of course The Bean. Since we were short on time last year, I didn't quite get to squeeze in as much of the sights as I wanted to. I have a few of my favorites on my list for this year along with a few new spots to check out over the weekend.

3. The Expo
I love race expos, and if anyone knows how to do a race expo, it is Rock n Roll. There are always so many great vendors to check out and I cannot wait to see some new product and of course make a few purchases there. When I went to Chicago last July, I basically had to run through the expo in less than 15 minutes due to a delayed flight, so I am looking forward to a little less chaotic adventure through the expo floor this time.

4. Friends
The people are what make race weekends so amazing. Over the past few years I have made some of the most amazing friends from around the country. Yes, we might only see each other a few times a year (or less), but the time we get together is so insanely fun. I will be traveling to Chicago with my friend Jennifer this weekend for a fun girls race-cation weekend and a lot of my #RockNBlog and #WeRunSocial friends will be bringing the party to Chicago this weekend, so I will be in some great company for sure. I know I am ready, but is Chicago ready?

MEET UP ALERT! Come hang out with the #WeRunSocial crew at 9am on Saturday (after the 5K) at the Bean! Come out, say hello, snap some selfies, and show the interwebs what they are missing in Chicago this weekend.

5. Course
Hello flat course! Coming from hilly Atlanta, I always get excited to take on a flat course. Yes, I run better on hills traditionally, but do I love hills? I think not. I absolutely loved the Rock n Roll Chicago courses last year and cannot wait to run them again this year. The 5K course changed from 2016, but it still looks like a great and scenic course ahead of us on Saturday.

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JayBird X3 Sport Bluetooth Headphones Review

7/13/2017

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Disclaimer: I received a complementary pair of Jaybird X3 Headphones in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. As always, thoughts are strictly my own.

Some people prefer to run and workout with music while others enjoy working without it. I am one that loves having some music in the background - especially when running. It is funny because most of the time I don't even really "listen" to the music - I just hear the music. Having something with the right beat definitely helps me run faster or workout a bit harder. Since I refuse to be "that person" running with speakers blasting boom-box style, I rely on headphones to enjoy my latest playlist on the run.

Nothing is more annoying that headphones that don't stay put whether you are working out or just sitting and enjoying music or podcasts. I have struggled most of my life with in-ear headphones due to having smaller ears and the shape of my ear canal. Earbuds always seem to fall of my ears with the slightest movement of my head (and don't even get me started on running).

When the team at Jaybird approached me about checking out their Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones, my gut was to pass on the opportunity, but I had heard a bit about Jaybird on social media and have only heard great things about them from runner friends. Maybe, just maybe, the Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones are a good fit for me. When my Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones arrived in the mail, I quickly opened the box to check them out.

What is Included with the Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones

X3 Wireless Buds
Comply™ Isolation Foam Ear Tips: S/M/L
Silicone Ear Tips: S/M/L
Secure-Fit Ear Fins: S/M/L
Cord Management Clips
Cord Shirt Clip
USB 2.0 Charging Cable + Charge Clip
Carry Pouch

One of the first things that I noticed about the Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones was how compact and portable that they were. I have never understood bulking headphones - especially for sports. I need something that is easy to take with me in my purse, running bag, gym bag etc and that also isn't cumbersome to wear. The carry pouch is roomy enough for the Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones to fit into along with all of the accessories (tips, fins, etc) and it is compact enough to easily carry in my bags.

The first thing that I needed to do with my Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones was to charge them up. Charging them was as simple as clipping the USB charging cord to the headphones and BOOM! Charging! It only takes about 2 1/2 hours to get a full charge, but since I got them after getting home from the gym and I was ready to head to bed, I threw them on the charger over night.

My first adventures with the Jaybird X3 Sport was a casual outing for lunch. Connecting the headphones via Bluetooth to my phone was basically dummy-proof and basically connected itself. I also downloaded the My Sound app which is a pretty cool and unique feature to the Jaybird X3 Sport headphones because you can customize your headphone's sound right in your phone. I'm not a total 'sound snob' but having the flexibility to customize my sound is pretty sweet.

I figured that a relaxing time like lunch was a good time to try out the fit and find the tips and ear fins that work best for me. I was really unsure with how the ear fins would feel. I knew that they were important to the design to keep the earbuds in my ears (which has been a problem in my life with every pair of buds that I have ever tried), but I was wasn't sold on if they would be comfortable. Honestly, I was absolutely blown away when I put them in. I felt the tips when I tucked them in my ear, but after that, I didn't even know that they were there. They felt very light and were really comfortable.

Since my casual-wear test was a success and I was familiar with wearing the Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones I took them for a spin at the gym and for a few runs. This was the ultimate runner/fitness test as we all know how much earbuds love to fall out once you jar around and start to sweat. My hesitancy still lingered when I took them out for a sweat-fest and they proved themselves yet again.

The comfort and security of the Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones in my ear WAY exceeded my expectations. As one who has never been able to wear traditional earbuds in a casual setting let alone for running/workouts, the fact that they stayed in my ear (and did so comfortably) was HUGE. Outside of comfort, there are a number of features of the Jaybird X3 Sport headphones that really stood out to me.

Easy Controls

The simple to use control on the wire makes answering calls, changing songs, and adjusting volume easy to do with a few clicks. Once I learned what buttons and how many clicks to do each prompt, it was a snap. There was a slight learning curve, but it was easy to learn.

Source: Jaybird

Battery Time

One feature that tends to stand out to long distance runners when talking headphones is battery life. Nothing is worse than being out on a 20 mile run and your battery dying a few miles in and you are left with no music for the longest part of your run. The Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones offers approximately 8 hours of playtime per charge (dependent on usage, device, and aging) on a single charge. If you are like me and like to charge your gear once a week or so and just keep things in your gym bag ready to you, you will love the fact that these headphones offer a standby time of about 200 hours per charge (dependent on usage, device, and again). The best part is that charging the Jaybird X3 Sports are crazy easy via the including USB charging cord that clips onto the headphones and is fully charged in about 2 1/2 hours (or a quick charge of 20 minutes gives you 1 hour of play time).

Sweat-Proof

The double hydrophobic nano coating get you through all those sweaty workouts and runs and are also perfect for casual wear as well. It might be a TMI, but I am a pretty heavy sweater, so you can imagine how much sweat I put out when running in July. Now when I am crushing my run, I know that my sweat isn't going to ruin my headphones.

Comfort and Security

Jaybird reduced the size and improved the fit with the X3 Sport. The speaker housing diameter was reduced by 20% to accommodate smaller ear canals. I am glad that someone out there FINALLY designed something that can accommodate those with small ear canals like myself. What if you don't have small ear canals? No worries, the three sizes of fins and tips included help you create a custom fit to your specific needs. Included are two different types of tips: Comply™ Isolation Foam Ear Tips and Silicone Ear Tips in three different sizes, so you can really create the perfect fit for your liking. I personally prefered the silicone tips since they seemed to have a better fit in my ear.

I have to say though that the thing that REALLY gave me a secure feeling was the fin. The fin tucked nice and securly (yet comfortably) in my ear and never budged even during my speedwork and they were so comfortable that I basically forgot that they were in until someone went to talk to me in the locker room afterwards.

Multi-Use

The Jaybird X3 Sport is compatible with any Bluetooth device including iPhone, Apple Watch, iPod Touch, iPad, iPad mini, Android, Windows, Blackberry, Android Wear Smartwatches, PC, Mac and gaming devices. No matter if you are just listening to your favorite playlist or you need to answer a call mid-workout, the Jaybird X3 Sport has you covered.

You can also simultaneously pair and connect your X3 Sport with two different Bluetooth devices - for example you can listen to music or stream video on your laptop and answer a call on your cell phone. Hello multi-tasking!

MySound App

Like I mentioned, I am not a "sound snob" by any means, but having the flexibility to control my headphones sound is a great perk. Want some extra bass? Go into your My Sound app and set up your X3's sound preferences and they are saved to your headphones. Better yet, those preferences go with you even if you pair your headphones to a different device.

Obviously, I totally loved my experience with the Jaybird X3 Sport Headphones. Thank you Jaybird for making a believer out of me when I thought for sure that these headphones would pop out of my ear instantly just as every other earbud has. To check out Jaybird products and follow them on social media (hey, you might just score a deal on a pair), check them out here:

Jaybird Website
Jaybird on Twitter
Jaybird on Instagram
Jaybird on Facebook

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Run 5K, Wine Later Virtual 5K

7/11/2017

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary entry to the Run 5K, Wine Later Virtual 5K from Gone For a Run as a member of their 2017 Virtual Race Team. As always, all thoughts are strictly my own.

Summer is in full force in Georgia (and probably a lot of the country)! Summer months tend to be slower months for runners because the heat can really take a toll on your body and it is just plain YUCKY out there in the heat and humidity - hello 75+ degree EARLY morning runs.

Virtual races are a great way to go get your miles in with a fun little twist. Face it, you are more likely to get your miles in on a Saturday morning if you know there is some bling waiting for you when you are done, right? However, it might not be possible to go to a race every weekend - lack of babysitter, no races in the area, frigid winter, etc. Well, virtual races are perfect for your "race free" weekends! Even better is that virtual races allow you to run/walk your race however you want to - indoor or outdoors, trail or pavement, night or day, etc.

In the next few weeks, I will be earning some bling while getting our family miles in together with Gone For A Run's Run 5K, Wine Later Virtual 5K.

Want to get in on the fun? Here's the deets.

1. Register at Gone for a Run for the Run 5K, Wine Later Virtual 5K. Registration for this run is open and available for $34 which includes an ADORABLE race shirt, REAL race bib (no printing a bib) and silicone medal that doubles as a wine stopper! Oh! How about that $34 includes shipping! That's right - $34 total - no additional fees or shipping.

Source: GoneForARun.com

2. Pick Your Swag. - I love some great race swag, but the themed swag for the Run 5K, Wine Later Virtual 5K is crazy adorable. Included in your registration, you get your choice of a women's cut or unisex cut shirt. At registration you have the opportunity to purchase additional swag such as shoe charms, socks, and of course a wine glass if you want a little extra wine-tastic swag arriving on your doorstep.

Source: GoneForARun.com

3. Run, Walk, Skip, Hop, or Whatever for 3.1 Miles! - It doesn't matter how you get it done, just get out there and get moving. Log 3.1 miles via road, treadmill, trail, or however you choose from August 27-September 2.

4. CELEBRATE! You earned your bling, so rock that medal. Actually, open your favorite bottle of wine, pour a glass, then use your new medal bottle stopper and sit back and adore it.

Source: GoneForARun.com

5. Share Your Awesomeness - Once you are done, hop over to social media and share your accomplishment. Share your race, photos and/or recap on the Gone For A Run Facebook page at facebook.com/GoneForaRunVirtualRaceSeries. Don't forget to cheer on your fellow virtual runners as well!

Need even more reason to run? By taking part in the Run 5K, Wine Later Virtual 5K you will also be supporting an amazing charity. A portion of your entry will be donated to Achilles International which provides a community of support to athletes with disabilities. Please read about the great success of the foundation at achillesinternational.org (Source: Gone For A Run)

Ready to Register? Head over to Gone for A Run to register today!

Want to connect with Gone For A Run and other Run 5K, Wine Later Virtual 5K Runners?
Gone For A Run on Facebook
Gone For A Run on Twitter
Gone For A Run on Instagram

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A Change of Pace For the Weekend: Saying Goodbye to Grandma

7/6/2017

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If you follow me on Instagram or read a recent blog post, you probably know that my Grandma passed away a few weeks ago. To say my heart is shattered right now is an understatement. All I can think about is the beautiful time that I got to spend with her in February. Even with Alzheimer's, she knew me when she saw me. She might not have remembered my name, but she knew that she knew me. We had an absolutely amazing time together that day and it is something that fills my heart with joy at a time of hurt and sadness. There's so many great memories that I shared with her over the years (even though I wouldn't let her hold me when I was a baby/toddler). Most importantly, I thank her for giving me my balance of stubbornness and kindness in life.

Today I head to Florida to spend a few days with my family as we say our goodbyes to my sweet Grandma, celebrate her life and legacy, and spend time together as a family.

I will be stepping away from the blog for a few days to devote my time, focus, heart, and energy to my family, but will return next with smile and fun-filled miles and adventures to share. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend and please take a few minutes to hug a loved one and/or tell them that you love them.

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Run WIth Me Virtual 5K

7/5/2017

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Disclaimer: I received a complimentary entry to the Run With Me Virtual 5K from Gone For a Run as a member of their 2017 Virtual Race Team. As always, all thoughts are strictly my own.

Virtual races are a great way to go get your miles in with a fun twist. Face it, you are more likely to get your miles in on a Saturday morning if you know there is some bling waiting for you when you are done, right? However, it might not be possible to go to a race every weekend - lack of babysitter, no races in the area, frigid winter, etc. Well, virtual races are perfect for your "race free" weekends! Virtual races allow you to run/walk your race however you want to - indoor or outdoors, trail or pavement, night or day, etc.

I didn't have any races on tap this weekend, so I used this as the perfect opportunity to get out and run the Run With Me Virtual 5K. I ended up lacing up with Momma K and did a nice 5K through the neighborhood once things cooled down (slightly) in the evening.

The 3.1 miles were pretty uneventful through the neighborhood. I did however have my neighbor's sweet pup, Bentley, greet me at the "finish line".

After logging 3.1 miles, my new (and crazy adorable) Run With Me Virtual 5K bling was acquired! Seriously, how adorable is this medal and shirt?!?! The Run With Me race kit also came with a cute charm for your pup. Glitter really isn't Bentley's thing...or he would find a way to eat it, so I will opt to put the charm on my race bag or something like that.

Thank you Gone For A Run for adding a little extra fun and excitement to getting my miles in today. Needless to say, I had a great time running Gone For A Run's Run With Me Virtual 5K with Momma K and helping support Animal Help & Wellness Foundation.

Want to connect with Gone For A Run and other Run With Me Virtual 5K Runners? Want to check out upcoming Gone for a Run Virtual races? Follow them on social media:
Gone For A Run on Facebook
Gone For A Run on Twitter
Gone For A Run on Instagram

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Happy July 4th!

7/4/2017

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It is time to kick-start the 4th of July! I seriously love all things about July 4th (patriotism, time with family and friends, and of course the festivities celebrating our country)! It is also Peachtree Road Race - woooooot!

It is going to be a fun-filled and action packed day to say the least! As you are reading this, I am likely mid-way through my 6.2 mile journey down Peachtree Street along with 60,000 other runners in the world's largest 10K, the Peachtree Road Race!

In true "Funner Runner" style, I will be posting the fun of the morning on Instagram and Twitter. I would love it if you followed along in the fun.

Be sure to follow me on social media:
Instagram: FunnerRunner
Twitter: @FunnerRunner13
Facebook: Funner Runner

Atlanta Track Club and Peachtree Road Race hashtags:
#AtlTrackClub
#AJCPRR
#PeachtreeRoadRace

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe July 4th holiday! Please take a moment to remember why we celebrate on July 4th and also thank those wonderful service men and women who protect our country everyday.

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